Is Catholicism the Oldest Christian Faith?
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After Martin Luther posted his 95 theses why would anyone remain in the Catholic church?
How could a Christian just continue to follow what they KNOW is not right? Probably because most of them were threatened economically or bodily.... (In Luthers time. Not now..)
Once you know, for sure, that some of the "policies" of the Catholic church are WRONG, it kind of creates a domino effect in searching for all the rest of the things they have WRONG. They definitely can't claim infallibility like they used to... Not now, since we all have bibles we can check.
How could a Christian just continue to follow what they KNOW is not right? Probably because most of them were threatened economically or bodily.... (In Luthers time. Not now..)
Once you know, for sure, that some of the "policies" of the Catholic church are WRONG, it kind of creates a domino effect in searching for all the rest of the things they have WRONG. They definitely can't claim infallibility like they used to... Not now, since we all have bibles we can check.
Catholics place their "popes" in the place of Christ.
They've been doing it since the beginning. It is nothing for them to continue to do so.
Of course, it is quite silly for a Christian who has been to Christ to accept that a pope is Christ and the popes before them were all christs.
At least, I think it is silly.
They've been doing it since the beginning. It is nothing for them to continue to do so.
Of course, it is quite silly for a Christian who has been to Christ to accept that a pope is Christ and the popes before them were all christs.
At least, I think it is silly.
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But Jesus said this to Simon.
Matt 16
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
The Father revealed The Son to Simon when Jesus asked all of them " who do you say that I Am? Then changed Simon's name to Peter.
So, here we have God changing someone's name. An important event in salvation history.
What is the meaning of this? What do you believe happened to Simon Peter when he received the keys of the Kingdom of heaven?
Matt 16
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
The Father revealed The Son to Simon when Jesus asked all of them " who do you say that I Am? Then changed Simon's name to Peter.
So, here we have God changing someone's name. An important event in salvation history.
What is the meaning of this? What do you believe happened to Simon Peter when he received the keys of the Kingdom of heaven?
The Roman bishopric was one of several bishoprics. The five major ones were Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, Constantinople, and Alexandria.
Roman Catholicism does NOT have the original Christian doctrine.
Regarding the number of Christian sects, some of them are cults that deny core Christian teachings. Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, as well, deny at least one core teaching which is justification by faith alone. I would not categorize either as cults, but as "world religions".
Here are the core Christian teachings from the evangelical perspective:
: 1) the full deity and full humanity of Jesus Christ (Jesus is God and glorified man)
2) monotheism or the belief in one God
3) the doctrine of the Trinity
3) justification by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone
5) the inspiration and sole authority of Scripture as the rule of faith
6) substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross (Jesus died in the place of the believer)
7) original sin
8) virgin birth of Jesus
9) bodily resurrection of Jesus
10) eternal reward of the righteous and eternal punishment of the unrighteous
There are theologies that violate core Christian teachings, without which a sound understanding of Jesus Christ and his ministry cannot be maintained. Roman Catholicism does this with regards to justification by faith alone.
According to Paul denying that justification is by faith alone is a damning heresy. I believe Rome qualifies as being essentially the same thing as the Judaizers the Galatian letter warned us about.
Do I believe all Roman Catholics are unsaved? No. I think some are saved but others are simply ignorant of true Christian doctrine. I believe God will lead them out of it.
Regarding our "opinions" the above doctrines are clearly taught in Scripture so they are not a matter of opinion. They are a matter of biblical teaching.
In fact, perhaps your struggle is a low regard for God's word, or perhaps you haven't studied it well enough to see that the above are clearly taught in Scripture.
Another issue with Rome is that it believes tradition trumps God's word, when it comes down to it. The Roman church interprets Scripture for the laity, and if the laity sees clear contradictions, they basically go with what the Church teaches, if they are a consistent Roman Catholic. So, Scripture is not the ultimate authority, but it is the Roman Catholic church's interpretation of Scripture.
It was the same way in a cult I belonged to. The founder was the one who interpreted Scripture, and if you challenged his interpretation, you would no longer be welcome and would be disfellowshipped. You had to evaluate Scripture through his interpretative lenses.
Roman Catholicism does NOT have the original Christian doctrine.
Regarding the number of Christian sects, some of them are cults that deny core Christian teachings. Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, as well, deny at least one core teaching which is justification by faith alone. I would not categorize either as cults, but as "world religions".
Here are the core Christian teachings from the evangelical perspective:
: 1) the full deity and full humanity of Jesus Christ (Jesus is God and glorified man)
2) monotheism or the belief in one God
3) the doctrine of the Trinity
3) justification by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone
5) the inspiration and sole authority of Scripture as the rule of faith
6) substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross (Jesus died in the place of the believer)
7) original sin
8) virgin birth of Jesus
9) bodily resurrection of Jesus
10) eternal reward of the righteous and eternal punishment of the unrighteous
There are theologies that violate core Christian teachings, without which a sound understanding of Jesus Christ and his ministry cannot be maintained. Roman Catholicism does this with regards to justification by faith alone.
According to Paul denying that justification is by faith alone is a damning heresy. I believe Rome qualifies as being essentially the same thing as the Judaizers the Galatian letter warned us about.
Do I believe all Roman Catholics are unsaved? No. I think some are saved but others are simply ignorant of true Christian doctrine. I believe God will lead them out of it.
Regarding our "opinions" the above doctrines are clearly taught in Scripture so they are not a matter of opinion. They are a matter of biblical teaching.
In fact, perhaps your struggle is a low regard for God's word, or perhaps you haven't studied it well enough to see that the above are clearly taught in Scripture.
Another issue with Rome is that it believes tradition trumps God's word, when it comes down to it. The Roman church interprets Scripture for the laity, and if the laity sees clear contradictions, they basically go with what the Church teaches, if they are a consistent Roman Catholic. So, Scripture is not the ultimate authority, but it is the Roman Catholic church's interpretation of Scripture.
It was the same way in a cult I belonged to. The founder was the one who interpreted Scripture, and if you challenged his interpretation, you would no longer be welcome and would be disfellowshipped. You had to evaluate Scripture through his interpretative lenses.